U.S. patent application number 14/141650 was filed with the patent office on 2014-07-03 for dual chamber beverage container.
The applicant listed for this patent is Lawrence William Wales. Invention is credited to Lawrence William Wales.
Application Number | 20140186507 14/141650 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51017479 |
Filed Date | 2014-07-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140186507 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wales; Lawrence William |
July 3, 2014 |
DUAL CHAMBER BEVERAGE CONTAINER
Abstract
A beverage container includes a first chamber having a bottom
wall with a hole extending therethrough and adapted to hold a first
liquid and a second chamber that mates with the first chamber and
is adapted to hold a second liquid. A dispensing mechanism that
dispenses at least a portion of the second liquid into the first
chamber through the at least one hole includes a tube, a plunger
located within the tube and a first check valve. The plunger is
movable between a first position and a second position to fill the
tube with at least a portion of the second liquid and is movable
between the second position and the first position to expel the
second liquid into the first chamber. The first check valve
prevents the second liquid from entering back into the second
chamber when the plunger is moved back into the first position.
Inventors: |
Wales; Lawrence William;
(Maplewood, MN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Wales; Lawrence William |
Maplewood |
MN |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
51017479 |
Appl. No.: |
14/141650 |
Filed: |
December 27, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61848228 |
Dec 28, 2012 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
426/519 ;
206/221 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G 19/2205 20130101;
A47J 43/27 20130101; A23L 2/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
426/519 ;
206/221 |
International
Class: |
A47J 43/27 20060101
A47J043/27; A23L 2/00 20060101 A23L002/00 |
Claims
1. A beverage container comprising: a first chamber that holds a
first liquid and includes a bottom wall with at least one hole
extending therethrough; a second chamber that holds a second
liquid; a dispensing mechanism that dispenses at least a portion of
the second liquid into the first chamber through the at least one
hole, the dispensing mechanism comprising: a tube; a plunger
located within the tube and being movable between a first position
and a second position to fill the tube with at least a portion of
the second liquid and being movable between the second position and
the first position to expel the second liquid into the first
chamber; and a first check valve that prevents the second liquid
from entering back into the second chamber when the plunger is
moved back into the first position.
2. The beverage container of claim 1, wherein the dispensing
mechanism further comprises a second check valve that prevents the
first liquid in the first chamber from entering into the tube when
the plunger is retracted into the second position.
3. The beverage container of claim 1, wherein the first chamber is
located above at least a portion of the second chamber.
4. The beverage container of claim 2, wherein the first chamber
comprises an interior chamber and the second chamber comprises an
exterior chamber.
5. The beverage container of claim 4, wherein the exterior chamber
comprises a height that is greater than a height of the interior
chamber.
6. The beverage container of claim 4, wherein the exterior chamber
comprises a side wall having a variable diameter that tapers at an
angle relative to vertical that is greater than an angle relative
to vertical that a side wall of the interior chamber tapers so that
a bottom of the inner chamber contacts an interior surface of the
side wall above a bottom of the exterior chamber.
7. The beverage container of claim 6, wherein the exterior chamber
comprises an upper section and a lower section, the lower section
being sized to fit into a standard cup holder.
8. The beverage container of claim 7, wherein the angle relative to
vertical that the side wall of the interior chamber tapers is
greater than the angle relative to vertical that the side wall of
the exterior chamber tapers such that the bottom of the interior
chamber contacts the interior surface of the side wall of the upper
section of the exterior chamber.
9. The beverage container of claim 3, further comprising a lid that
engages with a top of the first chamber.
10. The beverage container of claim 4, further comprising a lid
that engages with a top of the exterior chamber.
11. A beverage container comprising: a first reservoir; a second
reservoir; a dispensing mechanism that dispenses at least a portion
of a fluid from the first reservoir into the second reservoir, the
dispensing mechanism comprising: a tube; a plunger located within
the tube and being movable between a first position within the tube
and a second position within the tube, wherein the plunger is
configured to intake the fluid from the first reservoir into the
tube when the plunger is retracted into the second position and
being configured to expel the fluid into the second reservoir when
the plunger is pushed back into the first position; a first check
valve that allows the fluid in the first reservoir to enter the
tube when the plunger is retracted into the second position but
prevent the fluid from entering back into the first reservoir when
the plunger is pushed back into the first position; and a second
check valve that allows the fluid in the tube to be expelled into
the second reservoir when the plunger is pushed back into the first
position but prevents contents in the second reservoir from
entering into the tube when the plunger is retracted into the
second position.
12. The beverage container of claim 11, wherein the plunger is
accessible from a top of the beverage container.
13. The beverage container of claim 11, wherein the plunger is
accessible from a bottom of the beverage container.
14. The beverage container of claim 11, wherein the tube is located
in a first hole that extends between the first reservoir and the
second reservoir.
15. The beverage container of claim 14, wherein the dispensing
mechanism further comprises a first conduit that connects the fluid
in the first reservoir to the tube and a second conduit that
connects the tube to the second reservoir through a second hole
that extends between the first reservoir and the second
reservoir.
16. The beverage container of claim 15, wherein the first check
valve is interposed in the first conduit between the fluid in the
first reservoir and the tube.
17. The beverage container of claim 16, wherein the second check
valve is interposed in the second conduit between the tube and the
second reservoir.
18. A method of mixing a secondary fluid with a primary fluid in a
beverage container, the method comprising: obtaining a beverage
container that houses a primary reservoir that holds the primary
fluid, a secondary reservoir that holds the secondary fluid and a
syringe for transferring the secondary fluid into the primary
fluid; dispensing the secondary fluid into the primary fluid by:
pulling a plunger of the syringe from a first position in a tube to
a second position in the tube to fill the tube with at least a
portion of the secondary fluid; returning the plunger from the
second position to the first position to expel the portion of the
secondary fluid into the primary fluid; and wherein a first check
valve prevents the portion of the secondary fluid that filled the
tube from returning back into the secondary reservoir.
19. The method of claim 18, further comprising accessing the
plunger of the syringe from a top of the beverage container.
20. The method of claim 18, further comprising accessing the
plunger of the syringe from a bottom of the beverage container.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application is based on and claims the benefit
of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/848,228, filed
Dec. 28, 2012, the content of which is hereby incorporated by
reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Mixed drinks are beverages that include two or more
ingredients. For example, a mixed alcoholic beverage can include at
least one non-alcoholic beverage that is mixed with a distilled
beverage. In another example, non-alcoholic beverages can include
at least two different non-alcoholic beverages mixed together, such
as a liquid concentrate that is mixed with water or soda.
[0003] The discussion above is merely provided for general
background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in
determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
SUMMARY
[0004] A beverage container includes a first chamber or reservoir,
a second chamber or reservoir and a dispensing mechanism that
dispenses at least a portion of a fluid from the first reservoir
into the second reservoir. The dispensing mechanism includes a tube
and a plunger located within the tube and being movable between a
first position within the tube and a second position within the
tube. The plunger is configured to intake the fluid from the first
reservoir into the tube when the plunger is retracted into the
second position and being configured to expel the fluid into the
second reservoir when the plunger is pushed back into the first
position. The dispensing mechanism further includes a first check
valve that allows the fluid in the first reservoir to enter the
tube when the plunger is retracted into the second position but
prevent the fluid from entering back into the first reservoir when
the plunger is pushed back into the first position and a second
check valve that allows the fluid in the tube to be expelled into
the second reservoir when the plunger is pushed back into the first
position but prevents contents in the second reservoir from
entering into the tube when the plunger is retracted into the
second position.
[0005] A method of mixing a secondary fluid with a primary fluid in
a beverage container is also provided. A beverage container is
obtained that houses a primary reservoir that holds the primary
fluid, a secondary reservoir that holds the secondary fluid and a
syringe for transferring the secondary fluid into the primary
fluid. The secondary fluid is dispensed into the primary fluid by
pulling a plunger of the syringe from a first position in a tube to
a second position in the tube to fill the tube with at least a
portion of the secondary fluid, returning the plunger from the
second position to the first position to expel the portion of the
secondary fluid into the primary fluid, and a first check valve
prevents the portion of the secondary fluid that filled the tube
from returning back into the secondary reservoir.
[0006] This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of
concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in
the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify
key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter,
nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of
the claimed subject matter. The claimed subject matter is not
limited to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages
noted in the background.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of a beverage container
according to one embodiment.
[0008] FIG. 2 is an exploded side view of the beverage container of
FIG. 1.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a section view of the beverage container of FIG. 1
in a first position.
[0010] FIG. 4 is a section view of the beverage container of FIG. 1
in a second position.
[0011] FIG. 5 is an enlarged section view of the dispensing
mechanism of the beverage container illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 6 illustrates a side view of a beverage container
according to another embodiment.
[0013] FIG. 7 is an exploded side view of the beverage container of
FIG. 6.
[0014] FIG. 8 is a section view of the beverage container of FIG. 6
in a first position.
[0015] FIG. 9 is an enlarged section view of the dispensing
mechanism of the beverage container illustrated in FIG. 6.
[0016] FIG. 10 is a section view of the beverage container of FIG.
6 in a second position
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] Embodiments described herein include a beverage container
having dual chambers that provide the function of mixing two
separately contained fluids together to make a consumable mixed
drink (i.e., a cocktail). For example, a liquid beverage, such as a
liquid containing alcohol, can be contained in one of the chambers
of the beverage container and another type of liquid beverage can
be contained in the other chamber of the beverage container to then
be mixed together when needed. Such a beverage container eliminates
the need to carry several containers and makes the beverage
container a self-contained, portable beverage mixer. Other
exemplary uses include, but are not limited to, introducing a
liquid neutralizing agent, such as iodine, stored in one of the
chambers into a contaminated fluid, such as water that is
contaminated with bacteria, which is stored in the other chambers.
Another exemplary use includes introducing a portion of a liquid
beverage stored in a second chamber into a first chamber so that
the second chamber that contains the remaining portion of liquid
beverage cannot be contaminated while the portion of the liquid
beverage that was introduced into the first chamber can be consumed
from the first chamber.
[0018] FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of a beverage container 100
according to one embodiment. Beverage container 100 includes two
chambers or reservoirs--a first chamber or reservoir 102 and a
second chamber or reservoir 104--that are assembled together to
construct beverage container 100. In the embodiment illustrated in
FIG. 1, first chamber 102 is located above second chamber 104.
Beverage container 100 also includes a lid 103. Lid 103 engages
with or disengages from a top of first chamber 102 by various
mechanisms including being mated together using threads or being
coupled together using a press-fit arrangement. In one embodiment,
lid 103 includes a spout 108 (FIG. 3), which can give access to a
fluid extraction element, such as a straw, or to access the fluid
in first chamber 102 by pouring.
[0019] FIG. 2 is an exploded side view of beverage container 100
where first chamber 102 is disassembled from second chamber 104,
but lid 103 is still engaged with the top of first chamber 102.
[0020] FIG. 3 is a section view of beverage container 100 taken
through the line indicated in FIG. 1. In one embodiment and as
illustrated in FIG. 3, first chamber 102 and second chamber 104 are
connected together by, for example, mating internal threads, which
would be located on the bottom of the housing of first chamber 102,
with external threads, which would be located on the bottom of the
housing of second chamber 104.
[0021] Beverage container 100 includes a dispensing mechanism 114
that dispenses at least a portion of a second liquid located in
second chamber 104 into first chamber 102. A bottom wall 107 of
first chamber 102 includes a centrally located through hole 110
through which is attached a portion of dispensing mechanism 114.
More specifically, attached to through hole 110 is an upper check
valve 112. Upper check valve 112 is fixedly attached, by a
manufacturing procedure, such as, but not limited to, adhesive
bonding, ultrasonically welding, solvent bonding, or molding. Upper
check valve 112 is oriented in a manner such that liquid can flow
through hole 110 in a direction 113 from second chamber 104 up into
first chamber 102 and can prevent the flow of liquid through hole
110 in a direction opposite to direction 113. In other words, the
orientation of upper check valve 112 prevents liquid from entering
into second chamber 104 via gravity.
[0022] Remaining portions of dispensing mechanism 114 are located
in second chamber 104 including dispensing mechanism 114 having a
tubular plunger body assembly or syringe 119. Syringe 119 includes
a tube 132 and a plunger 122 located and movable within tube 132.
Portions of dispensing mechanism 114 are secured to a mounting
block 115 that also defines a recessed pocket 120 in a bottom wall
109 of second chamber 104. Recessed pocket 120 allows the user to
access the proximal handle end portion 121 of plunger 122 from the
bottom of beverage container 100 to dispense liquid from second
chamber 104 into first chamber 102. The dispensing mechanism 114
attaches into a counter bore 125 of mounting block 115.
[0023] FIG. 5 illustrates an enlarged section view of the portions
of dispensing mechanism 114 that are located in second chamber 104.
Dispensing mechanism 114 includes a plunger tube top 130 that is
fixedly attached to tube 132 to create a tubular plunger body
assembly or syringe 119. Plunger tube top 130 includes a through
hole 134 used to allow liquid to escape through when pressurized.
Tube 132 also has a through hole 136 located near the top end of
tube 132.
[0024] Dispensing mechanism 114 also includes a lower check valve
138 fixedly attached to through hole 136 and extending within the
wall of, but not beyond the inner lumen of tube 132. Lower check
valve 138 is oriented such that the flow direction 140 allows
liquid to flow into the inner lumen of tube 132 and is oriented to
prevent liquid from flowing in a direction opposite from flow
direction 140. A conduit 142 having an open end 143 is attached to
lower check valve 138 to allow liquid contained in second chamber
104 to flow up conduit 142 in direction 144. Conduit 142 is
positioned such that open end 143 is located near bottom wall 109
of second chamber 104.
[0025] Plunger tube top 130 is fixedly attached to a top end of
tube 132. Plunger tube top 130 has a recessed pocket 146 that
houses a washer 148. Washer 148 is a resilient material that
protrudes from top of the tubular plunger body assembly 119 so that
it compresses against bottom wall 107 of first chamber 102. Washer
148 compresses when first chamber 102 is completely attached to
second chamber 104. The compression of washer 148 creates a liquid
tight seal isolating first chamber 102 from second chamber 104.
Therefore, when first chamber 102 is attached to second chamber
104, dispensing mechanism 114 is a sealed pressure vessel.
[0026] Plunger 122 has a distal end 150 that is made of a resilient
material that is slightly oversized to create a seal within the
lumen of tube 132, while a proximal handle end portion 121 of
plunger 122 acts as the handle of plunger 122. When plunger 122 is
in a first position (FIGS. 3 and 54) where it is fully pushed
distally, proximal handle end portion 121 of plunger 122 will
reside within recessed pocket 120 of second chamber 104. In the
first position, distal end 150 of plunger 122 stops when it
interferes with plunger tube top 130.
[0027] When a liquid or beverage is placed in second chamber 104
and open end 143 of conduit 142 is placed in the liquid or beverage
in second chamber 104, pulling down or back on proximal handle end
portion 121 of plunger 122 into a second position (FIG. 4) creates
a vacuum within tube 132 that draws the liquid or beverage in
second chamber 104 in direction 144 through conduit 142 in
direction 140 and through check valve 138 into tube 132. Upon
distal end 150 interfering with mounting block 115, plunger 122 has
completed its full range of motion. The suction created from
plunger 122 does not draw liquid from first chamber 102 due to the
orientation of check valve 138, which prevents flow in a direction
opposite from direction 140. Although FIG. 4 illustrates plunger
122 pulled in a full range of motion to interfere with mounting
block 115, it should be realized that plunger 122 need not be.
Pulling plunger 122 into a position that is at a distance that is
less than a full range of motion is possible and would result in
less of a quantity of liquid or beverage in second chamber 104
being drawn into tube 132.
[0028] Retracting or pushing plunger 122 back into the first
position (FIGS. 3 and 5) within tube 132 so that distal end 150
again interferes with plunger tube top 130 pressurizes the liquid
or beverage that was drawn into plunger tube 132 and dispenses or
expels the liquid or beverage through hole 134 in plunger tube top
130 and also through check valve 112, which allows liquid to flow
in direction 113 into first chamber 102. With plunger 122 fully
seated back against plunger tube top 130, all the liquid from tube
132 is dispensed or expelled into top chamber 102 to mix with the
liquid or beverage that is located in top chamber 102. Likewise,
check valve 112 prevents the liquid or beverage located in top
chamber from entering through hole 110, which keeps the liquid or
newly mixed beverage contained in top chamber 102.
[0029] Beverage chamber 100 can be made from a variety of materials
such as but not limited to, polymers, metals, metal alloys, etc.
Processes such as plastic injection molding, blow molding or other
conventional machining or manufacturing processes could be used to
manufacture beverage chamber 100. Secondary manufacturing process,
such as but not limited to adhesive bonding, welding, molding or a
compression fit could be used to install and fixedly attach the
check valves 112 and 138. Secondary processes to install dispensing
mechanism 114 can also be used, such as but not limited to,
adhesive bonding, welding, molding or compression fits.
[0030] FIG. 6 illustrates a side view of a beverage container 200
according to another embodiment. Beverage container 200 includes
two chambers or reservoirs--an internal chamber or second reservoir
202 and an external chamber or first reservoir 204--that are
assembled together to construct beverage container 200. Beverage
container 200 also includes a lid 203. Lid 203 is attached to or
detached from a top 213 of external chamber 204 by various
different mechanisms including being mated together using threads
or being coupled together using a press-fit arrangement. In one
embodiment, lid 203 includes a spout 208 (FIG. 8), which can give
access to a fluid extraction element, such as a straw, or to access
the fluid in internal chamber 202 by pouring.
[0031] FIG. 7 is an exploded side view of beverage container 200
where internal chamber 202, external chamber 204 and lid 203 are
disassembled from each other. As illustrated in FIG. 7, external
chamber 204 includes an upper section 209 and a lower section 211.
Lower section 211 is sized to fit in a standard cup holder or sized
to have a standard cup size, while upper section 209 includes a
height 207 that is greater than a height 215 of internal chamber
202. Both external chamber 204 and internal chamber 202 are tapered
and include varying diameters. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the taper
of upper section 209 of external chamber 204 is at an angle 223
relative to vertical and the taper of internal chamber 202 is at an
angle 225 relative to vertical. Angle 223 is greater than angle 225
and the diameter at a bottom 219 of upper section 209 of external
chamber 204 is less than or equal to the diameter at a bottom 221
of internal chamber 202.
[0032] FIG. 8 is a section view of beverage container 200 taken
through the line indicated in FIG. 6. Internal chamber 202 fits
within external chamber 204 and because the taper angle 225 of
internal chamber 202 is smaller than the taper angle 223 of
external chamber 204, the side wall of internal chamber 202 rests
within first section 209 on the interior surface of the side wall
of external chamber 204.
[0033] Beverage container 200 includes a dispensing mechanism 214
that dispenses at least a portion of a fluid located in external
chamber 204 into internal chamber 202. A bottom wall 250 of
internal chamber 202 includes a centrally located first through
hole 210 through which a portion of dispenser mechanism 214 is
attached. Bottom wall 250 of internal chamber 202 also includes a
second through hole 226 located between first through hole 210 and
the side wall of internal chamber 202 through which another portion
of dispenser mechanism 214 is attached.
[0034] FIG. 9 illustrates an enlarged side view of dispensing
mechanism 214. With reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, dispensing
mechanism 214 includes a simple pump component or syringe 219 that
has a plunger 222 that fits tightly in and is movable within a tube
232. Tube 232 is the portion of dispensing mechanism 214 that is
fixedly attached, by a manufacturing procedure, such as, but not
limited to, adhesive bonding, ultrasonically welding, solvent
bonding, or molding, to first through hole 210. Tube 232 is
attached to a connector 230, such as a luer fitting or luer taper.
Connector 230 communicates fluid from external chamber 204 into
tube 232 and from tube 232 into internal chamber 202.
[0035] Dispensing mechanism 214 also includes a first conduit 228a,
a second conduit 228b, an upper check valve 212 and a lower check
valve 238. First conduit 228a connects the fluid in external
chamber or first reservoir 204 with syringe 219 and second conduit
228b connects the fluid drawn into syringe 219 with internal
chamber or second reservoir 202. Each valve 212 and 238 acts as a
one-way valve. Lower check valve 238 is connected to upper check
valve 212 by first conduit 228a, a T-fitting 227 and a second
conduit 228b. Lower check valve 238 is connected to connector 230
by first conduit 228a and T-fitting 227. Lower check valve 238 is
interposed in first conduit 228a to allow liquid or beverage to
flow in a direction 240 through connector 230 and fill the inner
lumen of tube 232. Lower check valve 238 is also interposed in
first conduit 228a to prevent or block liquid or beverage from
flowing in an opposite direction from direction 240. Upper check
valve 212 is interposed in second conduit 228b to allow liquid or
beverage to flow in a direction 241 from T-fitting 227 into
internal chamber 202 and prevents or blocks the flow of liquid or
beverage in an opposite direction from direction 241.
[0036] When a liquid or beverage is placed in external chamber 204,
an open end of lower check valve 238 is placed in the liquid or
beverage. To mix the separately contained beverages, a user removes
lid 203, accesses a proximal handle end portion 221 of plunger 222
from a top of beverage container 100 and pulls back or up on handle
end portion 221 from a first position (FIGS. 7 and 9) to a second
position (FIG. 10) to create a vacuum within tube 232 that draws
the liquid or beverage from the bottom container through check
valve 238 to fill tube 232. With plunger 222 retracted as
illustrated in FIG. 10, tube 232 is filled with a set amount of
liquid or beverage from external chamber 203. It should be realized
that plunger 222 (as illustrated in FIG. 10) need not be fully
retracted. If less liquid or beverage located in external chamber
204 is desired to be mixed with the liquid or beverage located in
internal chamber 202, then plunger 222 should be partially
retracted to a point that is somewhere between fully plunged and
fully retracted. After plunger 222 has been retracted to the
desired location, a user pushes down on the plunger to pressurize
the liquid or beverage that was taken in tube 232 and expels the
liquid or beverage through upper check valve 212. The expelled
liquid or beverage does not dispense through lower check valve 238
because it is oriented to block liquid or beverage from flowing in
a direction opposite direction 240, but does enter through
T-fitting 227 and through upper check valve 212 because upper check
valve 2121 is oriented to allow liquid or beverage to flow in
direction 241.
[0037] Although the subject matter has been described in language
specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is
to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended
claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts
described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described
above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the
claims.
* * * * *